Recenti avanzamenti scientifici dell 'agroselvicoltura e contraddizioni della P.A.C. verso i sistemi agroforestali

Abstract. Recent scientific advances on agroforestry and contradiction of the European Agricultural Policy regarding agroforestry systems. In Italy as well in Europe, the rapid decline of traditional agroforestry systems has strongly contributed to agroecosystems simplification and ignited global problems such as good quality timber shortage, soil erosion, biodiversity decline, water contamination with phytonutrients and agrochemicals, landscape alteration. Nevertheless, since the last decade, research has developed innovative silvorable systems, aimed to produce high quality timber with hardwoods, like walnut, wild cherry, poplar hybrids, intercropped with herbaceous crops. The European Project SAFE (Silvoarable Agroforestry For Europe) has demonstrated that new silvoarable systems are compatible with the modern agricultural technique and might be more profitable especially respect to forest plantations. Moreover, silvoarable systems could also decrease significantly soil erosion and nitrogen leaching, and they could also increase carbon sequestration across farmed areas. Although this, the Agricultural Policy of the European Union is ambiguous as regard agroforestry systems, whose establishment should be supported with grants for the farmers throughout the local applications of the Rural Development Plans (Reg. CE 1698/2005). On the same time, the grants systems of the Single Farm Payment (SFP) (Reg. CE 1782/2003) is detrimental for the retention of forest trees amongst farmland. The SFP is currently the main grant system supporting European farmers for agricultural crops. The area occupied by those trees is removed in the calculation of the Single Farm Payment, with farmer grants reduction. It appears necessary a less contradictory support of agroforestry by the Agricultural Policy of the European Union.